First off, not all stocks are off-limits for shorting, so that should come as good news.

It is troubling, however, that actions are being taken on several securities to prevent shorting, and this throws a ringer in the "free market" ideal that we have come to "loosely" believe governs the markets.

My taken on the short-selling measure by the SEC is that it was pressured by the largest financial institutions to do so to prevent erosion in their market cap.

Heck, if anyone has the power to tell the SEC to protect their butts, it's the financial institutions.

Is that 3% fixed figure for real? Do they have to give up equity to get that? If it is for real why wouldn't everyone just buy a house and put it in to foreclosure live free for 12-18 months and then get that fixed sweetheart rate subsidized by the tax payer!